Smart home technology: Quarter of homes use smart products with sales up 135 per cent

NEARLY a quarter of British households now contain a smart home product, according to new research.

Google Home (L) and Amazon Echo (R) are two of the most popular smart home products on the market

Technology retailer Maplin says its new Smart Meter survey found that 24 per cent of UK homes now featured a smart home device, with smart plugs that can remotely switch off power identified as the current most popular product.

The rise of artificial intelligence-powered, voice-controlled smart hubs such as the Amazon Echo and Google Home has propelled smart home technology into the mainstream in the last year, with 38% of those surveyed revealing they planned to buy a hub in the next six months.

Apple is due to launch its own smart speaker in December - the HomePod - which will feature smart assistant Siri and will respond to voice commands.

According to Maplin, smart home device sales are up 135 per cent on last year, with consumers who did buy a device spending on average £174 each on the technology in the last 12 months.

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Oliver Meakin

Chief executive Oliver Meakin said: "The Smart Home market is growing at an astonishing rate as consumers seek more connected homes.

"The convenience and peace of mind these products offer is proving popular. With Silicon Valley's tech giants launching competing entertainment products before the end of the year, smart hubs look set to become Christmas 2017's must-have tech gifts.

"If the current growth in demand for smart home products continues, they will soon become as common as smart phones."

More than half of those surveyed (56 per cent) said safety was the reason they chose to invest in the devices, with remote camera and smart door bell systems among the products that have become more prominent in the last year.

However, the quick rise of the technology was also highlighted in the research, with 93 per cent saying they had heard of smart home technology, but 55% added that they did not fully understand it.

"We have launched the UK's first Free Smart Home Survey to help our customers navigate the exploding market," Mr Meakin said.

"Our Smart Home Surveyors give bespoke advice to each customer on what the best Smart Home solutions are for them.

"Our initial trials of the service were overwhelmingly positive and now we have reached national coverage we look forward to helping more Brits navigate the Smart Home market."

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